Springfield Haitian residents use public assistance like everybody else, though denied at higher rate

An analysis of data from Clark County Department of Job and Family Services found that 92 people identified as Haitians were approved for public assistance programs such as food stamps or medical assistance in October, and 96 were denied. This is out of 1,873 total applications for assistance in Clark County that month.

These benefits can help people who are trying to determine their next steps in a new city, said Clark County Department of Job and Family Services Director Ginny Martycz.

“I think it lends the same support it does to all of our families,” said Martycz. “It provides them a sense of stability until they can figure out what their next best options are. And that’s the same for any of our residents.”

Haitians who meet income, work and residency requirements can apply for public benefits like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and medical assistance. Most local benefits are funneled through the Clark County JFS.

According to data from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), 5,279 applications for all public benefits were approved for Haitian residents this year through October, compared to 16,388 new applications approved for other Clark County residents during the same time period.

Through October of this year, though, more than 60% of Haitian applicants were denied. This is compared to 53% of other Clark County residents.

The number of applicants for public assistance in October fell to its lowest level in two years.

Martycz said that it’s unclear what caused the drop off in applications in October, but many factors could have contributed to that decline — people finding employment, for example.

The current state system used to catalog benefits data by demographic has been used since 2022, and data logged before could not be accessed by county JFS officials. The News-Sun is working to obtain that data through the state.

Springfield is home to an estimated 12,000 to 15,000 Haitian immigrants, many of whom are in the country under humanitarian parole, with many also having Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a legal status that enables them to remain in the country until February 2026. But many other legal classifications exist for immigrants residing in Clark County, Martycz said.

Immigration status and eligibility

Humanitarian parole is a temporary entry that is granted when there is an urgent humanitarian need or a compelling emergency for individuals who would otherwise be ineligible for entry into the United States.

TPS allows an eligible person who receives approval to remain in the U.S. for a designated period of time but does not provide a direct path to citizenship. This protection also allows immigrants to apply for work permits. TPS was first approved for Haitians in 2010 after a major earthquake devastated the country, and the status has been redesignated or extended several times.

Nationally, any undocumented resident is ineligible for most public assistance, save for a program geared toward emergency medical assistance.

Many factors determine eligibility for public assistance, but work requirements for eligible Haitian residents are the same as all public assistance recipients, according to Clark County JFS.

Regardless of background, people routinely see their applications denied for lack of eligibility or the required documents, Martycz said.

Food assistance, health care

Ohio residents — including qualified immigrants — are eligible for benefits if their household’s gross monthly income is at or under 130% of federal poverty guidelines, according to Clark County JFS.

A family of four with a monthly income of less than $3,380 may receive up to $975 in SNAP allotment per month, for example.

SNAP is administered locally through the Clark County JFS and supplies recipients with an EBT card to make grocery purchases. Noncitizen eligibility for SNAP depends on immigration status.

Medicaid offers health care coverage for low-income residents. Legal immigrants who meet income requirements are also eligible for Medicaid.

The Refugee Medical Assistance program is available to a specialized group of immigrants who don’t qualify for Medicaid. With this program, immigrants can also receive a medical card to consult doctors and get medication from pharmacies, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

In Clark County, no person has been approved for this program, Martycz said.

Cash assistance, housing

Eligibility for public housing benefits like vouchers depends on someone’s immigration status. People on TPS are not eligible for housing assistance, for example, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Springfield Metropolitan Housing Authority, which administers federal housing programs in Clark County, did not return multiple requests for comment regarding housing vouchers and immigrant access.

Other assistance exists for Ohioans. Ohio Works First, under the state’s portion of the TANF program, provides cash assistance to qualifying low-income families with children. Ohio Works First may require applicants to participate in “work activities.” This includes things like on-the-job training, community service and education related to employment. Ohio Works First funding is limited to 36 months. Applicants can use these funds for necessities such as housing, transportation and child care.

Haitian immigrants with children may also be eligible for this program.

Some Haitian residents who are not eligible for the OWF program may qualify for the Refugees Cash Assistance program. This program is for immigrants without children, and assistance is limited to 12 months after arrival into the United States.

The Refugees Cash Assistance program is similar to TANF in terms of average payments, and roughly 1,500 immigrants are receiving assistance from this program in Clark County as of November.

Reporters Lynn Hulsey and Jessica Orozco contributed to this report.